The University of the Sunshine Coast has experienced the most growth in full-time employment and salary increases post study when compared to other Queensland universities. Pictured is Huyen Vo, who is studying a Master of Social Work.John McCutcheon

USC graduate salaries, jobs on the rise

UNIVERSITY of the Sunshine Coast graduates' job prospects and salaries have never looked better, according to a national survey.

The 2018 Graduate Outcomes Survey reveals USC undergraduates full-time employment has grown from the lowest in Queensland in 2015, up from 60.9 per cent to 88.4 per cent this year.

This is still the second-lowest ranking in the state, above only Griffith, but represents the most significant growth (27.5 per cent) for any university in Queensland.

Overall employment was below the national average in 2015 at 84.8 per cent, but has increased to an above-average 93.4 per cent this year.

USC deputy vice-chancellor academic professor Tim Wess said he was "delighted” by students' overall satisfaction with their educational experience, and the "rapid acceleration” in their employment prospects.

USC undergraduates have also benefited from a significant pay rise, with the highest salary increase of nine Queensland universities. Though graduates are still paid the sixth-highest wage ($69,700), this is a $17,700 increase on 2015's $52,000 median.

Prof Wess made the "philosophical point” that while many students are interested in securing a job, one of the duties at USC was to show people that going through higher education can open their minds to "more ways of knowing and doing”.

Prof Wess joined USC about four months ago, and was previously employed by the national top performer for salary and employment outcomes, Charles Sturt University, New South Wales.

He believed one of their "keys to success” was the university's work experience programs, and said USC had taken it upon itself to make integrated learning mandatory on all programs.

He said the statistics likely didn't reflect those who chose to remain on the Sunshine Coast and work multiple jobs, rather than in full-time employment somewhere else. He said USC wants to help enable people to learn and earn on the Coast, and hoped to facilitate the next generation of employers and entrepreneurs to create employment opportunities.

Nationally, respondents said labour-market factors were the main reason for working in a job in 2018 that doesn't fully use skills and education (undergraduate).

This was the case in full and overall employment, contributing 61.9 per cent and 56.6 er cent respectively.

Most said there were no suitable jobs in their area of expertise, while personal factors contributed the remainder.